Communicating location specific emergency information to a mobile device

ABSTRACT

An occurrence of an emergency situation pertinent to people presently located within a venue can be identified. Responsive to identifying the emergency situation pertinent to the people located within the venue, a first level of security clearance assigned to a user located within the venue, and a present location within the venue of a first mobile device of the user, can be automatically determined. A route, from the present location within the venue of the first mobile device to an exit of the venue, which does not require the user to be assigned a second level of security clearance that is higher than the first level of security clearance for the user to traverse the route, also can be determined. An emergency alert and an emergency plan for exiting the venue can be automatically communicated to the mobile device, wherein the emergency plan for exiting the venue describes the route.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to mobile communications and, moreparticularly, to emergency related mobile communications.

Emergency procedures, exit locations, and other potential lifesavinginformation oftentimes are provided in commercial buildings, but areusually accessible as diagrams or depictions, posted in limited places,or as videos posted in limited places at limited times. As an example,in certain municipalities, public transportation vehicles, such buses,taxis and airplanes, are required to present to passengers emergencyexit procedures using schematic images or videos. Such schematic imagesand videos oftentimes lack detailed explanation and are general innature. In addition, they usually do not present a step-by-stepalgorithm customized based on the specific location, situation oremergency. Moreover, passengers do not necessarily have proceduresreadily available if needed. For example, a hotel may post an emergencyexit schematic diagram in hotel rooms, but once customers leave theirhotel rooms, they may not find any other emergency exit diagrams whileattempting to leave the hotel during an emergency.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,098,787 discloses “[a] mobile device receives proximitylocation information from at least one location identification beacon. Auser of the mobile device dials an emergency telephone number when anemergency occurs. Dialing the emergency telephone number enables theproximity location information to be transmitted to an emergency callcenter.” During an emergency, however, users, may find it distractingand cumbersome to have to dial an emergency telephone number.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,755,767 discloses a “method and system provide a currentphysical geographic location for a mobile device (e.g., buildingaddress, a building floor, a room on a building floor, campus,enterprise, city, state, region, country, continent, etc.), in anemergency situation such as an accident, fire, terrorist attack,military incident, etc. and forward the physical geographic location toa legacy 911 network or a Emergency Services IP networks (ESInet).” Suchoperation, however, does not help guide people safely out of astructure.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,431 discloses a “mobile wireless system (10)includes a transmitter such as a satellite (18) that broadcasts wirelesssignals such as boundaries for specific areas to a mobile receivingdevice (22). Mobile receiving device (22) may include an antenna (26)and a mobile receiving device (28). A locating receiver (50) is used togenerate locating signals so that a determination may be made to thelocation of the mobile receiving device. When the location is outside anarea of interest the area of interest may be extended to provideservices to the mobile device. Emergency information is broadcast to afirst area. An emergency announcement indicator is also broadcast into afirst area and an area outside the first area. The location of themobile receiving device is compared to the first area and the emergencyinformation is displayed when the location is within the first area.”Thus, a user must be located in proximity of where the emergencyannouncement indicator is broadcast in order to receive the emergencyannouncement.

SUMMARY

A method includes identifying an occurrence of an emergency situationpertinent to people presently located within a venue. The method alsocan include, responsive to identifying the emergency situation pertinentto the people located within the venue: automatically determining afirst level of security clearance assigned to a user located within thevenue; automatically determining a present location within the venue ofa first mobile device of the user; determining, using a processor, aroute, from the present location within the venue of the first mobiledevice to an exit of the venue, which does not require the user to beassigned a second level of security clearance that is higher than thefirst level of security clearance for the user to traverse the route;and automatically communicating, to the first mobile device, anemergency alert and an emergency plan for exiting the venue, wherein theemergency plan for exiting the venue describes the route.

A system includes a processor programmed to initiate executableoperations. The executable operations include identifying an occurrenceof an emergency situation pertinent to people presently located within avenue. The method also can include, responsive to identifying theemergency situation pertinent to the people located within the venue:automatically determining a first level of security clearance assignedto a user located within the venue; automatically determining a presentlocation within the venue of a first mobile device of the user;determining a route, from the present location within the venue of thefirst mobile device to an exit of the venue, which does not require theuser to be assigned a second level of security clearance that is higherthan the first level of security clearance for the user to traverse theroute; and automatically communicating, to the first mobile device, anemergency alert and an emergency plan for exiting the venue, wherein theemergency plan for exiting the venue describes the route.

A computer program includes a computer readable storage medium havingprogram code stored thereon. The program code is executable by aprocessor to perform a method. The method includes identifying anoccurrence of an emergency situation pertinent to people presentlylocated within a venue. The method also can include, responsive toidentifying the emergency situation pertinent to the people locatedwithin the venue: automatically determining a first level of securityclearance assigned to a user located within the venue; automaticallydetermining a present location within the venue of a first mobile deviceof the user; determining by the processor a route, from the presentlocation within the venue of the first mobile device to an exit of thevenue, which does not require the user to be assigned a second level ofsecurity clearance that is higher than the first level of securityclearance for the user to traverse the route; and automaticallycommunicating, to the first mobile device, an emergency alert and anemergency plan for exiting the venue, wherein the emergency plan forexiting the venue describes the route.

A computer program includes a computer readable storage medium havingprogram code stored thereon. The program code is executable by aprocessor to perform a method. The method includes identifying, by theprocessor, an occurrence of an emergency situation pertinent to peoplepresently located within a venue. The method also can include,responsive to identifying the emergency situation pertinent to thepeople located within the venue, automatically communicating, by theprocessor, location specific emergency information to a first mobiledevice, the location specific emergency information describing anemergency plan for exiting the venue from a present location of thefirst mobile device within the venue, wherein the location specificemergency information is configured to be presented by the first mobiledevice to a user of the first mobile device to safely guide the userfrom the present location to an exit of the venue. The method also caninclude the method steps previously described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communicationsystem.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method ofcommunicating to a mobile device location specific emergencyinformation.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating example architecture for a dataprocessing system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating example architecture for a mobiledevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to mobile communications and, moreparticularly, to emergency related mobile communications. In accordancewith the arrangements disclosed herein, responsive to identifying anoccurrence of an emergency situation pertinent to people presentlylocated within a venue, a system can communicate to a user's mobiledevice information pertinent to the emergency situation. Inillustration, the system can automatically communicate to the mobiledevice an emergency alert providing contextual information pertaining tothe emergency situation. The mobile device can present the emergencyalert to the user. Further, the system can determine a present locationof a mobile device within a venue, and communicate to the mobile devicelocation specific emergency information describing an emergency plan forexiting the venue from the present location to an exit. The mobiledevice can present the emergency plan to the user. Accordingly, ratherthan having to look for exit signs to follow to exit the venue, the usercan follow a route provided by the emergency plan. This can help theuser to exit the structure more quickly.

Several definitions that apply throughout this document now will bepresented.

As defined herein, the term “location” means a place within a venuewhere a user may be physically present.

As defined herein, the term “venue” means a place that physically existsin the real world. Examples of venues include, but are not limited to,physical structures such as buildings, hotels, motels, stores, malls,convention centers, stadiums, aircraft, vehicles (e.g., buses),watercraft (e.g., cruise ships, military ships, etc.), amusement parksand the like. As the term “venue” is defined herein, an on-line storeand a virtual environment hosted by one or more processing systems arenot venues.

As defined herein, the term “mobile device” means a processing system,including at least one processor and memory, with which a user directlyinteracts, which includes at least one transceiver, and which isconfigured to be carried or otherwise held by the user while the userinteracts with the processing system. Examples of a mobile deviceinclude, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a personal digitalassistant, a tablet computer, a mobile computer, a smart watch, smartglasses, and the like. Network infrastructure, such as routers,firewalls, switches, and the like, are not mobile devices as the term“mobile device” is defined herein. Displays and output audio transducersmounted to or carried by structures, such as walls, ceilings, carts orvehicles, also are not mobile devices as the term “mobile device” isdefined herein. Notwithstanding, a mobile device may include a displayand/or output audio transducer that is integrated with the mobiledevice.

As defined herein, the term “ad hoc communication link” means apeer-to-peer communication link between at least two devices that iscreated spontaneously instead of relying on a server or base station tocoordinate the flow of messages between the at least two devices. An adhoc communication link can be established over a WiFi® network, a meshnetwork, a personal area network (PAN), or any other suitable network.

As defined herein, the term “mesh network communication link” means acommunication link between at least two devices that is created in anetwork in which each node of the network relays data for the network.All nodes in a mesh network cooperate in the distribution of data in themesh network.

As defined herein, the term “personal area network” means acommunication link between at least two devices over which wirelesscommunication signals are communicated directly among the devices, forexample using INSTEON®, IrDA®, Wireless USB, Bluetooth®, Z-Wave®,ZigBee® and/or body Area Network.

As defined herein, the term “responsive to” means responding or reactingreadily to an action or event. Thus, if a second action is performed“responsive to” a first action, there is a causal relationship betweenan occurrence of the first action and an occurrence of the secondaction, and the term “responsive to” indicates such causal relationship.

As defined herein, the term “computer readable storage medium” means astorage medium that contains or stores program code for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.As defined herein, a “computer readable storage medium” is not atransitory, propagating signal per se.

As defined herein, the term “processor” means at least one hardwarecircuit (e.g., an integrated circuit) configured to carry outinstructions contained in program code. Examples of a processor include,but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), an arrayprocessor, a vector processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic array (PLA),an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logiccircuitry, and a controller.

As defined herein, the term “real time” means a level of processingresponsiveness that a user or system senses as sufficiently immediatefor a particular process or determination to be made, or that enablesthe processor to keep up with some external process.

As defined herein, the term “output” means storing in memory elements,writing to display or other peripheral output device, sending ortransmitting to another system, exporting, or the like.

As defined herein, the term “automatically” means without userintervention.

As defined herein, the term “user” means a person (i.e., a human being).

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communicationsystem 100. The communication system 100 contains at least onecommunication network 110. The communication network 110 is the mediumused to provide communications links between various devices and dataprocessing systems connected together within communication system 100.The communication network 110 may include connections, such as wire,wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables. The communicationnetwork 110 may be implemented as, or include, any of a variety ofdifferent communication technologies such as a Wide Area Network (WAN),a Local Area Network (LAN), a wireless network, a mobile or cellularnetwork, a Virtual Private Network (VPN), the Internet, the PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN), or the like.

The communication system 100 also can include an emergency notificationsystem 120 and a plurality of beacons 130, 132, 134, each of which maycouple to the communication network 110. The communication system 100also can include a plurality of mobile devices 140, 145. In one aspectof the present arrangements, one or more of the beacons 130-134 can beimplemented as wireless access points, wireless routers, microcells orthe like, and the mobile devices 140, 145 can couple to thecommunication network 110 via the beacons 130-134 to both receive andtransmit messages via the communication network 110. In another aspect,the beacons 130-134 can be implemented as devices configured to transmitradio frequency (RF) and/or infrared (IR) messages that are detectableby one or more of the mobile devices 140, 145, but the beacons 130-134need not be configured to relay messages transmitted by the mobiledevices 140, 145 to the communication network 110.

The emergency notification system 120 may be implemented as one or moredata processing systems (e.g., servers), each including at least oneprocessor and memory, executing suitable operational software to supportcommunication of emergency notifications to one or more of the mobiledevices 140, 145. For example, the emergency notification system 120 canhost an emergency notification application 125.

One or more of the mobile devices 140, 145 can include a respectiveemergency notification client 150, 155. An emergency notification client150, 155 can be a stand-alone application executing on a respectivemobile device 140, 145, or integrated into an operating system or otherapplication executing on the respective mobile device 140, 145. By wayof example, the emergency notification client 150 can be implemented asa service executing on the mobile device 140. In one arrangement, forexample an arrangement in which the beacons 130-134 are wireless accesspoints or wireless routers, the emergency notification client 150 candetect the mobile device 140 establishing network presence on a network(e.g., a subnet) to which the beacons 130-134 provides network access,and monitor messages received by the mobile device 140 via the wirelessaccess points or wireless routers. In another arrangement, the emergencynotification client 150 can monitor beacon signals generated by thebeacons 130-134 and received by the mobile device 140. Regardless,responsive to receiving a message or beacon signal indicating anoccurrence of an emergency situation pertinent people presently locatedwithin a venue, the emergency notification client 150 can implement anynumber of various processes responsive to such messages/signals, as willbe described. The venue can be a building, a hotel, a motel, a stadium,a store, a shopping mall, an aircraft, a vehicle (e.g., a bus), awatercraft, an amusement park or the like.

In operation, the emergency notification system 120 can detect anoccurrence of an emergency situation pertinent people presently locatedwithin a venue. For example, the emergency notification system 120 candetect a signal from one or more fire alarms indicating that a fire ispresent in the venue, detect a signal from one or more seismic sensorsindicating that the venue has experienced an earthquake, detect a signalfrom one or more weather sensors indicating that a tornado is present inproximity to the venue, detect a signal from one or more acousticsensors indicating gunshots are fired in the venue, detect a signal fromone or more emergency alarms (e.g., fire alarms, silent alarms, etc.),or the like. In another example, the emergency notification system 120can monitor information generated by news and/or social media websites,emergency response services, etc., and detect information that indicatesan occurrence of emergency situation pertinent people presently locatedwithin a venue.

Responsive to detecting an occurrence of an emergency situationpertinent to people presently located within the venue, the emergencynotification system 120 can communicate to the mobile device 140, aswell as other mobile devices, an emergency alert 160 via one or more ofthe beacons 130-134. The emergency alert 160 can be communicated to themobile device 140 via one or more of the beacons 130-134, and can beconfigured to be presented by the mobile device 140 to the user to alertthe user to the emergency situation, for example via a display and/oroutput audio transducer of the mobile device 140. Accordingly, themobile device 140 can present the emergency alert 160 to the user. Theemergency alert 160 can provide contextual information pertaining to theemergency situation. The contextual information can, for example,indicate the nature of the emergency, actions to be taken by the user,precautions to be observed by the user, and the like.

In one arrangement, the emergency notification client 150 cancontinually monitor for beacons signals and/or messages. Responsive todetecting the emergency alert 160, the emergency notification client 150can automatically present the emergency alert 160 on the mobile device140. If the mobile device 140 presently is in sleep mode, the emergencynotification client 150 can automatically take the mobile device 140 outof sleep mode to present the emergency alert 160. In anotherarrangement, the emergency notification client 150 can present theemergency alert 160 responsive to detecting a user input on the mobiledevice 140. For instance, the emergency notification client 150 canpresent the emergency alert 160 responsive to the user launching a webbrowser on the mobile device 140. In a further arrangement, responsiveto the beacon 130 detecting the mobile device 140 attempting to accessthe communication network 110 via the beacon 130, the beacon 130 canintercept an HTTP request communicated by the mobile device 140 andre-direct the HTTP request to a particular website hosted by theemergency notification system 120 presenting the emergency alert 160.Such website can respond to the HTTP request by communicating one ormore HTTP responses that include the emergency alert 160, and the webbrowser on the mobile device 140 can render the emergency alert 160 onthe mobile device 140.

Further, in lieu of or in addition to the emergency alert 160,responsive to detecting the occurrence of the emergency situation, theemergency notification system 120 can communicate to the mobile device140, as well as other mobile devices, location specific emergencyinformation 165 via one or more of the beacons 130-134. The locationspecific emergency information 165 also can be configured to bepresented by the mobile device 140 to the user, for example via adisplay and/or output audio transducer of the mobile device 140.Accordingly, the mobile device 140 can present the location specificemergency information 165 to the user. The location specific emergencyinformation 165 can provide to the user emergency information that isspecific to the user's location within the venue. For example, thelocation specific emergency information 165 can include one or morediagram or images providing a route for the user to exit the venue, oneor more videos showing the route for the user to exit the venue, or thelike. Such diagram(s), image(s) and/or video(s) also can present to theuser contextual information pertaining to the emergency situation.

The user's location within the venue can be determined in any suitablemanner. In one arrangement, the emergency notification system 120 canstore in a computer-readable storage medium, which may be containedwithin the emergency notification system 120 or otherwise coupled to theemergency notification system 120, information indicating the locationof each of the beacons 130-134. In this arrangement, the locationspecific emergency information 165 can be generated for each of thebeacons 130-134, and the emergency notification system 120 cancommunicate to each of the beacons 130-134 respective location specificemergency information 165 to be communicated to mobile devices that arelocated in proximity to the respective beacons 130-134. For example, ifthe mobile device 140 is located proximate to the beacon 130, the mobiledevice 140 can receive the location specific emergency information 165from the beacon 130. In some cases the mobile device 140 may receivesignals from more than one beacon 130-134. In such cases, the emergencynotification client 150 can be configured to receive and process thesignal from the beacon 130 having the highest strength, and present tothe user the location specific emergency information 165 contained inthat signal.

In another arrangement, for example an arrangement in which one or moreof the beacons 130-134 are wireless access points or wireless routers,the emergency notification system 120 can determine a present locationof the mobile device 140 based on which beacon 130-134 the mobile device140 is communicatively linked, or based on a position of the mobiledevice 140 determined by a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. Inillustration, the mobile device 140 can include a GPS receiver andperiodically communicate to the emergency notification system 120messages indicating the present location of the mobile device 140. Theemergency notification system 120 also can receive information from thebeacons 130-134 relating to a strength of signals communicated betweenthe beacons 130-134 and the mobile device 140 and, based on the strengthof such signals, perform trilateration to determine the present locationof the mobile device 140. Regardless, responsive to determining thepresent location of the mobile device 140 within the venue, theemergency notification system 120 can communicate to the mobile device140 the location specific emergency information 165 that is based on themobile device's present location.

Regardless of how the user's location within the venue is determined,the location specific emergency information 165 can include informationthat is specific to the present location of the mobile device 140, andthus the user. In illustration, the location specific emergencyinformation 165 can include an emergency plan for exiting the venue froma present location of the mobile device 140 within the venue. Forinstance, the location specific emergency information 165 can safelyguide the user from the present location to an exit of the venue. Moreparticularly, the emergency notification system 120 can configure thelocation specific emergency information 165 to present to the user aroute to safely get from the present location to the exit. The route canbe predefined for the present location of the mobile device 140, or theemergency notification application 125 can dynamically determine theroute by processing digitized information indicating passageways withinthe venue (e.g., doorways, openings, hallways, staircases, elevators,escalators, rooms, and the like), nature of the emergency situation,etc.

By way of example, if the emergency situation is a fire in the southside of the venue, the emergency notification system 120 can determinethat the route should not include passageways in the south side of thevenue. Hence, the emergency notification system 120 can automaticallyprocess information related to the emergency situation and informationrelating to the venue to determine a route from the present location toan exit that does not traverse through the south side of the venue, andthat route can be communicated in the location specific emergencyinformation 165. Such route can be considered to be safe for the usersince it does not route the user through the portion of the venue wherethe fire is located. Similarly, if the emergency notification system 120detects gun shots fired in the south side of the venue, or detects thata stairway is collapsed in the south side of the venue (e.g., due to anearthquake, tornado, hurricane, explosion, or the like), the emergencynotification system 120 can automatically process such information todetermine a safe route to get the user from the present location to theexit.

In one aspect of the present arrangements, for example an arrangement inwhich the user is an employee or contractor working in a venue that is asecured facility, the emergency notification system 120 also can store,or otherwise access (e.g., from an active directory) user securityprofiles and information indicating user level of security clearancesthat are required for users to access various passageways in the venue.

By way of example, assume that the secured facility includes variouspassageways that are restricted to users having a particular level ofsecurity clearance. The user of the mobile device 140 may not have alevel of security clearance required to access all passageways in thesecured facility. Thus, when determining the route from the presentlocation of the mobile device 140 to an exit, the emergency notificationsystem 120 can demine a level of security clearance assigned to the userand determine a route that does not require the user to be assigned alevel of security clearance that is higher than that level of securityclearance in order for the user to traverse the route. In this regard,the location specific emergency information 165 generated by theemergency notification system 120 can describe a route that does notinclude passageways for which the user does not have an assigned levelof security clearance to enter. Such an arrangement can ensure that theuser is able to safely reach an exit without being blocked by a door toa passage way for which the user does not have the proper level ofsecurity clearance to access.

In another aspect of the present arrangements, the location specificemergency information 165 generated by the emergency notification system120 can describe a route that includes only passageways that do notrequire the user to be assigned a level of security clearancewhatsoever. In yet another aspect of the present arrangements. Theemergency notification system 120 can interface with one or moresecurity systems in the venue to disable security requirements otherwiserequired for users to enter various secure passageways within the venue.For example, the emergency notification system 120 can interface withthe security system(s) to unlock doors or configure the doors to becomeunlocked for any user presenting a user identification that isrecognized by the security system(s) and/or the emergency notificationsystem 120. Such an arrangements can ensure that the user is not blockedfrom accessing passage ways the user may need to traverse to safelyreach the exit.

In another aspect of the present arrangements, rather than the emergencynotification system 120 providing the emergency alert 160 and/orlocation specific emergency information 165, the beacon 130 canstatically store the emergency alert 160 and/or location specificemergency information 165. Responsive to the beacon 130 receiving amessage or other signal from the emergency notification system 120indicating the occurrence of the emergency situation, the beacon 130 canbegin transmitting the emergency alert 160 and/or location specificemergency information 165 to be received by mobile devices, such as themobile device 140. The beacon 130 can repeatedly transmit the emergencyalert 160 and/or location specific emergency information 165 until thebeacon 130 receives a message or other signal to stop transmitting suchinformation.

In another aspect of the present arrangements, the beacon 130 canreceive updates to the emergency alert 160 and/or location specificemergency information 165, for example from the emergency notificationsystem 120 and/or one or more other systems, and the beacon 130 canupdate the emergency alert 160 and/or location specific emergencyinformation 165 accordingly. Responsive to updating the emergency alert160 and/or location specific emergency information 165, the beacon 130can begin transmitting the updated emergency alert 160 and/or locationspecific emergency information 165 in lieu of the previous emergencyalert 160 and/or location specific emergency information 165.

In further aspects of the present arrangements, the mobile device 140can be configured to share the emergency alert 160 and/or the locationspecific emergency information 165 received from the emergencynotification system 120 with one or more other mobile devices, such asthe mobile device 145. For example, the emergency notification client150 can be configured to detect reception of the emergency alert 160and/or the location specific emergency information 165 by the mobiledevice 140 and share such with the mobile device 145. In illustration,responsive to receiving the emergency alert 160 and/or the locationspecific emergency information 165, the mobile device 140 can establishan ad hoc communication link with the mobile device 145, for example aWiFi® communication link, a mesh network communication link and/or apersonal area network (PAN) communication link.

In such an arrangement, the emergency notification client 150 can beconfigured to, in response to the mobile device 140 receiving theemergency alert 160 and/or the location specific emergency information165, automatically initiate the mobile device 140 to broadcasts signalsrequesting communication links to other mobile devices, such as themobile device 145. The emergency notification client 155 executing onthe mobile device 145 can be configured to recognize such communicationsignals generated by the mobile device 140 and automatically initiateprocesses on the mobile device 145 to establish an ad hoc communicationlink between the mobile device 140 and the mobile device 145. Responsiveto the ad hoc communication link being established, the mobile device140 can communicate to the mobile device 145 the emergency alert 160and/or the location specific emergency information 165. Moreover, themobile device 145 can function as a hotspot, relaying communicationsexchanged between the mobile device 145 and the beacon 130, or betweenthe mobile device 145 and the communication network 110.

In accordance with the above example, the mobile device 145 can receivefrom the mobile device 140 the emergency alert 160 and/or the locationspecific emergency information 165 even though the mobile device 145 maynot be able to receive signals and/or messages from the beacons 130-134,which may be due to any number of reasons. For example, the WiFi®transceiver and/or cellular network transceiver of the mobile device 145may be unable to communicate with the beacons 130, 134, while the PANtransceiver still is operative. Nonetheless, the mobile device 145 maybe able to receive the emergency alert 160 and/or the location specificemergency information 165 via the PAN transceiver.

In a further arrangement, the beacon 130 can receive a distress signalfrom the mobile device 145, for example via a mesh network establishedamong the mobile device 145 and the mobile device 140 and other mobiledevices. Responsive to receiving the distress signal from the mobiledevice 145, the beacon 130 can communicate the distress signal to themobile device 140 and/or one or more other beacons 132, 134 for sharingwith other mobile devices. The emergency notification client 150executing on the mobile device 140 can present the distress signal tothe user of the mobile device 140. Accordingly, the user of the mobiledevice 140 can take action to aid the user of the mobile device 145.

Additionally, the beacons 130-134 can be members of the mesh networkestablished among the mobile devices 140, 145, or the beacons 130-134can form their own mesh network. Thus, if one or more of the beacons130-134 lose connectivity to the communication network 110, otherbeacons can act as relays for the affected beacons. In illustration, ifthe beacon 130 loses connectivity to the communication network 110, thebeacon 132 can serve to relay communications between the beacon 130 andthe communication network 110.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method 200 ofcommunicating to a mobile device location specific emergencyinformation. At step 205, an occurrence of an emergency situationpertinent to people located within the venue can be identified. At step210, responsive to identifying the emergency situation pertinent to thepeople located within the venue, an emergency alert and locationspecific emergency information can be automatically communicated to afirst mobile device. The location specific emergency information candescribe an emergency plan for exiting the venue from a present locationof the first mobile device within the venue, wherein the locationspecific emergency information is configured to be presented by thefirst mobile device to a user of the first mobile device to safely guidethe user from the present location to an exit of the venue. At step 215,emergency propagation information can be automatically communicated tothe first mobile device. The emergency propagation information can beconfigured to be processed by the first mobile device to initiate thefirst mobile device to establish a communication link with at least asecond mobile device and communicate from the first mobile device to thesecond mobile device the emergency alert and the location specificemergency information.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating example architecture for theemergency notification system 120 of FIG. 1. The emergency notificationsystem 120 can include at least one processor 305 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit) coupled to memory elements 310 through a system bus 315or other suitable circuitry. As such, the emergency notification system120 can store program code within the memory elements 310. The processor305 can execute the program code accessed from the memory elements 310via the system bus 315. It should be appreciated that the emergencynotification system 120 can be implemented in the form of any systemincluding a processor and memory that is capable of performing thefunctions and/or operations described within this specification that areperformed by the emergency notification system 120. For example, theemergency notification system 120 can be implemented as one or morehardware servers.

The memory elements 310 can include one or more physical memory devicessuch as, for example, local memory 320 and one or more bulk storagedevices 325. Local memory 320 refers to random access memory (RAM) orother non-persistent memory device(s) generally used during actualexecution of the program code. The bulk storage device(s) 325 can beimplemented as a hard disk drive (HDD), solid state drive (SSD), orother persistent data storage device. The emergency notification system120 also can include one or more cache memories (not shown) that providetemporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce thenumber of times program code must be retrieved from the bulk storagedevice 325 during execution.

One or more network adapters 330 can be coupled to emergencynotification system 120 to enable the emergency notification system 120to become coupled to other systems, computer systems, remote printers,and/or remote storage devices through intervening private or publicnetworks. Modems, cable modems, transceivers, and Ethernet cards areexamples of different types of network adapters 330 that can be usedwith the emergency notification system 120.

As pictured in FIG. 3, the memory elements 310 can store components ofthe emergency notification system 120, for example an operating system335 and the emergency notification application 125 of FIG. 1. Beingimplemented in the form of executable program code, the operating system335 and the emergency notification application 125 can be executed bythe processor 305. For example, the processor 305 can execute theemergency notification application 125 within a computing environmentprovided by the operating system 335 in order to perform the processesdescribed herein that are performed by the emergency notification system120. As such, the operating system 335 and the emergency notificationapplication 125 can be considered part of the emergency notificationsystem 120. Moreover, the operating system 335 and the emergencynotification application 125 are functional data structures that impartfunctionality when employed as part of the emergency notification system120.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating example architecture for themobile device 140 of FIG. 1. The mobile device 140 can include at leastone processor 405 (e.g., a central processing unit) coupled to memoryelements 410 through a system bus 415 or other suitable circuitry. Assuch, the mobile device 140 can store program code within the memoryelements 410. The processor 405 can execute the program code accessedfrom the memory elements 410 via the system bus 415. It should beappreciated that the mobile device 140 can be implemented in the form ofany system including a processor and memory that is capable ofperforming the functions and/or operations described within thisspecification that are performed by the mobile device 140.

The memory elements 410 can include one or more physical memory devicessuch as, for example, local memory 420 and one or more bulk storagedevices 425. The mobile device 140 also can include one or more cachememories (not shown) that provide temporary storage of at least someprogram code in order to reduce the number of times program code must beretrieved from the bulk storage device 425 during execution.

Input/output (I/O) devices such as a display 430, a pointing device 435and, optionally, a keyboard 440 can be coupled to the mobile device 140.The I/O devices can be coupled to the mobile device 140 either directlyor through intervening I/O controllers. For example, the display 430 canbe coupled to the mobile device 140 via a graphics processing unit(GPU), which may be a component of the processor 405 or a discretedevice. One or more transceivers 445 also can be coupled to mobiledevice 140 to enable the mobile device 140 to become coupled to othersystems, computer systems, remote printers, and/or remote storagedevices through intervening private or public networks. Examples of thetransceivers 445 include, but are not limited to, cellular communicationmodems, WiFi® network adapters, PAN transceivers, and the like.

As pictured in FIG. 4, the memory elements 410 can store the componentsof the mobile device 140, for example an operating system 450 and theemergency notification client 150. Being implemented in the form ofexecutable program code, the operating system 450 and the emergencynotification client 150 can be executed by the processor 305. Forexample, the processor 305 can execute the emergency notification client150 within a computing environment provided by the operating system 450in order to perform the processes described herein that are performed bythe mobile device 140. As such, the operating system 450 and theemergency notification client 150 can be considered part of the mobiledevice 140. Moreover, the operating system 450 and the emergencynotification client 150 are functional data structures that impartfunctionality when employed as part of the mobile device 140.

While the disclosure concludes with claims defining novel features, itis believed that the various features described herein will be betterunderstood from a consideration of the description in conjunction withthe drawings. The process(es), machine(s), manufacture(s) and anyvariations thereof described within this disclosure are provided forpurposes of illustration. Any specific structural and functional detailsdescribed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basisfor the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled inthe art to variously employ the features described in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases usedwithin this disclosure are not intended to be limiting, but rather toprovide an understandable description of the features described.

For purposes of simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shownin the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example,the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative toother elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate,reference numbers are repeated among the figures to indicatecorresponding, analogous, or like features.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,”“including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in thisdisclosure, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Reference throughout this disclosure to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment described within this disclosure.Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in anembodiment,” and similar language throughout this disclosure may, but donot necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more thantwo. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a secondor more. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected,whether directly without any intervening elements or indirectly with oneor more intervening elements, unless otherwise indicated. Two elementsalso can be coupled mechanically, electrically, or communicativelylinked through a communication channel, pathway, network, or system. Theterm “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and allpossible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Itwill also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms, as these terms are only used to distinguishone element from another unless stated otherwise or the contextindicates otherwise.

The term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in responseto determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context.Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated conditionor event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or“in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition orevent]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],”depending on the context.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method, comprising: identifying an occurrence ofan emergency situation pertinent to people presently located within avenue; and responsive to identifying the emergency situation pertinentto the people located within the venue: automatically determining afirst level of security clearance assigned to a user located within thevenue; automatically determining a present location within the venue ofa first mobile device of the user; determining, using a processor, aroute, from the present location within the venue of the first mobiledevice to an exit of the venue, which does not require the user to beassigned a second level of security clearance that is higher than thefirst level of security clearance for the user to traverse the route;and automatically communicating, to the first mobile device, anemergency alert and an emergency plan for exiting the venue, wherein theemergency plan for exiting the venue describes the route.
 22. The methodof claim 21, further comprising: automatically communicating to thefirst mobile device emergency propagation information, the emergencypropagation information configured to be processed by the first mobiledevice to initiate the first mobile device to establish a communicationlink with at least a second mobile device and communicate from the firstmobile device to the second mobile device the emergency alert.
 23. Themethod of claim 22, wherein the communication link established betweenthe first mobile device and the second mobile device is an ad hoccommunication link established in response to the first mobile devicereceiving the emergency propagation information.
 24. The method of claim21, further comprising: automatically determining a present locationwithin the venue of the first mobile device; automatically selectinglocation specific emergency information describing an emergency plan forexiting the venue based on the present location within the venue of thefirst mobile device; and automatically communicating the locationspecific emergency information to the first mobile device.
 25. Themethod of claim 24, further comprising: automatically communicating tothe first mobile device emergency propagation information, the emergencypropagation information configured to be processed by the first mobiledevice to initiate the first mobile device to establish a communicationlink with at least a second mobile device and communicate from the firstmobile device to the second mobile device the location specificemergency information.
 26. The method of claim 21, wherein automaticallycommunicating, to the first mobile device, the emergency plan forexiting the venue comprises communicating to the first mobile device atleast one image, diagram or video showing the route for the user to exitthe venue.
 27. The method of claim 21, further comprising: receiving adistress signal from a second mobile device; and communicating thedistress signal to the first mobile device, wherein the first mobiledevice is configured to present the distress signal to a user of thefirst mobile device.
 28. A system, comprising: a processor programmed toinitiate executable operations comprising: identifying an occurrence ofan emergency situation pertinent to people presently located within avenue; and responsive to identifying the emergency situation pertinentto the people located within the venue: automatically determining afirst level of security clearance assigned to a user located within thevenue; automatically determining a present location within the venue ofa first mobile device of the user; determining a route, from the presentlocation within the venue of the first mobile device to an exit of thevenue, which does not require the user to be assigned a second level ofsecurity clearance that is higher than the first level of securityclearance for the user to traverse the route; and automaticallycommunicating, to the first mobile device, an emergency alert and anemergency plan for exiting the venue, wherein the emergency plan forexiting the venue describes the route.
 29. The system of claim 28, theexecutable operations further comprising: automatically communicating tothe first mobile device emergency propagation information, the emergencypropagation information configured to be processed by the first mobiledevice to initiate the first mobile device to establish a communicationlink with at least a second mobile device and communicate from the firstmobile device to the second mobile device the emergency alert.
 30. Thesystem of claim 29, wherein the communication link established betweenthe first mobile device and the second mobile device is an ad hoccommunication link established in response to the first mobile devicereceiving the emergency propagation information.
 31. The system of claim28, the executable operations further comprising: automaticallydetermining a present location within the venue of the first mobiledevice; automatically selecting location specific emergency informationdescribing an emergency plan for exiting the venue based on the presentlocation within the venue of the first mobile device; and automaticallycommunicating the location specific emergency information to the firstmobile device.
 32. The system of claim 31, the executable operationsfurther comprising: automatically communicating to the first mobiledevice emergency propagation information, the emergency propagationinformation configured to be processed by the first mobile device toinitiate the first mobile device to establish a communication link withat least a second mobile device and communicate from the first mobiledevice to the second mobile device the location specific emergencyinformation.
 33. The system of claim 28, wherein automaticallycommunicating, to the first mobile device, the emergency plan forexiting the venue comprises communicating to the first mobile device atleast one image, diagram or video showing the route for the user to exitthe venue.
 34. The system of claim 28, the executable operations furthercomprising: receiving a distress signal from a second mobile device; andcommunicating the distress signal to the first mobile device, whereinthe first mobile device is configured to present the distress signal toa user of the first mobile device.
 35. A computer program productcomprising a computer readable storage medium having program code storedthereon, the program code executable by a processor to perform a methodcomprising: identifying, by the processor, an occurrence of an emergencysituation pertinent to people presently located within a venue; andresponsive to identifying the emergency situation pertinent to thepeople located within the venue: automatically determining a first levelof security clearance assigned to a user located within the venue;automatically determining a present location within the venue of a firstmobile device of the user; determining by the processor a route, fromthe present location within the venue of the first mobile device to anexit of the venue, which does not require the user to be assigned asecond level of security clearance that is higher than the first levelof security clearance for the user to traverse the route; andautomatically communicating, to the first mobile device, an emergencyalert and an emergency plan for exiting the venue, wherein the emergencyplan for exiting the venue describes the route.
 36. The computer programproduct of claim 35, the method further comprising: automaticallycommunicating to the first mobile device emergency propagationinformation, the emergency propagation information configured to beprocessed by the first mobile device to initiate the first mobile deviceto establish a communication link with at least a second mobile deviceand communicate from the first mobile device to the second mobile devicethe emergency alert.
 37. The computer program product of claim 36,wherein the communication link established between the first mobiledevice and the second mobile device is an ad hoc communication linkestablished in response to the first mobile device receiving theemergency propagation information.
 38. The computer program product ofclaim 35, the method further comprising: automatically determining apresent location within the venue of the first mobile device;automatically selecting location specific emergency informationdescribing an emergency plan for exiting the venue based on the presentlocation within the venue of the first mobile device; and automaticallycommunicating the location specific emergency information to the firstmobile device.
 39. The computer program product of claim 38, the methodfurther comprising: automatically communicating to the first mobiledevice emergency propagation information, the emergency propagationinformation configured to be processed by the first mobile device toinitiate the first mobile device to establish a communication link withat least a second mobile device and communicate from the first mobiledevice to the second mobile device the location specific emergencyinformation.
 40. The computer program product of claim 35, whereinautomatically communicating, by the processor to the first mobiledevice, the emergency plan for exiting the venue comprises communicatingto the first mobile device at least one image, diagram or video showingthe route for the user to exit the venue.